Fuse for armor-piercing projectiles.



2 SHEETS-SHBET L PATENTED JUNE 2l, 1904.

H. S, MAXIM.

APPLICATION FILED 13120.17, 191.

FUSE FOR ARMOR PIERCING PROJECTILBS.

N0 MODEL.

PATB'NTBD JUNE 21, 1904.

H. s. MAXIM. FUSE FOR ,gm/10B PIBRGNG PROJBGTILES.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.17,"191.

Qsmmssmm 2.

UNITED STATES Patented June 21, 19021.

PATENT'v Gerlos.

-HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, OF LONDUN, ENGLAND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 763,302, dated June 21, i904.

A Application filed Decamber 17, 1901. Serial Nol 86,328. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM,

- Chevalier of the Legion of Honor, civil and mechanical engineer, a subject of the King of f- Grreat Britain, residing at 1 8 Queens Gate. Place, LondomEngland, have invented ceressary that such fuses should have a delayed action, vso that they do not explode at the instant ofthe projectile striking an.' object.` When picric acid' is modified sufficiently to enable itA to pass in a projectile through van armor-plate without being detonated by the shock of impact, it is necessary to provide a large and violent Yietonating charge to explode i`t g after it has passed through the said armor-plate. All dangerous explosives, such as fulminate of mercury and chlorate i compounds, are highly objectionable in such fuses. Therefore it is necessary for my pur- `pose to-.construet the fuse on a different principlefrom any heretofore employed.' Moreover, in very large projectiles charged with high explosive it is desirable that the projectile when once loaded should need no. fur- 4 ther manipulation beyond that necessary for conveying it to and placing it in the gun `before it is fired. In ordinary projectiles the i charge is placed in the projectile andthe provjectile is not fused until about the time when itis to be used; but there is always more orv lessv -danger in handling the fuses. It is' better, therefore, that the projectiles be so`eonstructe'd and loaded that they do not have to be manipulated after once having qualities.

Accordlngto my invention the fuse maybe -respect of their insensitiveness and keeping in the form of a cylindrical receptacle having three compartments foicontaining the detona'ting charges, which I term "primary, fsecondary, and tertiary charges. The said f use is located in a tube or pocket which extends from thevbase of the projectile into the main'charge of explosive,`and said fuse isA normally heldv at the rear or base end of saidtnbe or pocket by means of two transverse pins. Within the fuse is a movable piece or striker which is normally held fast in said fuse by a transverse pin. On'shock of discharge due to the ring of the gun one of thetrasverse pins by which the fuse is heldin place infthe tube or pocket is sheared and thel other pin bent. The bent pin effectually resists any forward movement of the fuse in its tube or pocket during the flight of the projectile; but on impact of the projectile this bent pin is sheared by the momentum of the fuse. The said fuse then advances in its tube or pocket, strikes the inner closed end thereof, and is thus suddenly checked in its movement. Within the fuse then shears its pin and moves forward independently of the fuse. In so doing the said vstriker explodes the primary charge of the fuse, and this explosion detonates the secondary charge, which in turn detonates the tertiary charge. The detonation of the tertiary charge causes the main charge in the projectile to be detonated and the projectile to be burst.

In order that my said invention may be clearly understood, I will describe the same. more fully with reference to the accompany-- ing drawings, in which- Figure l is a longitudinal section of a portion of an explosive projectilel provided with my improved fuse. Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view. and Fig. 3 is a detail cross-section on the line 1 I of Fig. l. Fig. tisaview similar to Fig. l, showing a modified form of my fuse. y

A is the body of the projectile, B the tube The movable piece or striker .or pocket extending from the base of the procavity 7X1, that receives a steel disk 7/3.-

jectile into the said body, and U is the fuse.'

The aforesaid tube or pocket B is provided with a screw-threaded flanged portion Z1, by which it is connected to the body of the projeetile. It is open at its rear end and closed altaits forward end, and it is formed at its in'- ner end with a series of longitudinal grooves for the purpose of weakening the said tube laterally.l so that it will readily burst when the fuse is exploded within it. These grooves receive metallic fillets 21X, of metal, which are soldered or otherwise secured therein. The aforesaid open end of the tube is provided with a detachable .plate or plug 7/, having a The said plug 7;' is provided with a soft-metal filling or packing-ring f, vwhich is crushed when the plug is screwed firmly home, ,thereby making a gas-tightjoint at this point. At the base of the projectile is a detachable base# plate l), which is suitably shaped to inclose the aforesaid plug 7)'. This vbase -plate is flanged and is connected with 'the projectile by mea-ns of screws or otherwise. Interposed between the said flanged plate and the base of the projectile are an obturator-ring E and a thin metallic plate E. The latter is adapted on the firing of the gun to bend rearwardly over the periphery of the said baseplate D; L

C is the aforesaid movable piece or striker which is contained centrally Within the fusebody. It is furnished with a stem c, .which extends through the aforesaid steel disk 223, where it is maintained in place by means of the two transverse pins c' (Il, which are pref erably composedv of copper or brassm The former of these pins passes through a hole in the said stem and the ends enter ,holes or recesses 7i in the plug f'. This pin lies behind without passing through the said steel disk b3 and is thereforeunsupported at the part which lies between the said holes orrecesses 7j, so that it will bend in a rearward direction without breaking. `The other pin, c?, extends through a hole in the said stem as well as through a correspondinghole formed in the steel disk 7f3. The said striker C' is hollow and held in place within the fuse-body by transverse pin, of copper or brass, c3, and the forward end of the striker is formed with a head provided at its periphery with a softlead ring The forward end of the striker is closed by aperforated plug c6, infront of v which is a disk c of ballistite or any hard and tough kind of smokeless powder. The forward end of the. body portion `of the fuse is closed by a screw-cap CR.. This cap has a circular or tubular iange c", within which fits the aforesaid soft-lead ring The said cap c 'also has an inner shortY tubular flange d", serving as an anvil againstwhich the striker forces the disk of ballistite c7 to lire, the fuse, as hereinafter explained. it will be seen that contact with the anvil c means of a the interior of the fuse constructed as above described has three chambers orcompartments d' (Z2 d3, the chamber IZ containing the primary detonating charge, the chamber d2 the secondary detonating charge, and the chamber d the tertiary detonating charge. The said primary charge, being comparatively small, may consist of smokeless powder, such as bal'listite, the secondafry charge Jg may consist either of some nitro or picrate explosive or of common black powder, and the tertiary charge may consist of pure picric acid or of some nitro compound, such as smokeless powder. Betweenthe base of the fuse and the face of the aforesaid plug L' I leave a space for the reception of a ring or washer If, of felt or other appropriate material of a flexible nat-ure.

'hen the .projectile is tired from the gun, it is of course very violently set forward by the pressure of the powder-gases, the fuse and all its parts being thus setback relatively to the projectile. The fuse thus compresses the washer 7; to about one-sixth of its original thickness. This actionv shears the pin fi and bends the other pin, c, into the form of a crank, yas represented in Fig. 2, which formation of the pin 'effectually prevents the fuse from trav keling forward in the tube or pocket B during the flight of the projectile from the gun. impact of the'projectile the fuse by its momen? tum shears the aforesaid pin c' and advances yindependently of the projectile, whereby the cap c8 at the forward end of the fuse violently strikes the closed end of the tube or pocket B. The force of this blow suddenly checksv the motion of the fuse and the internal striker by its momentumshears the pin 1 and advances independently of the fuse, thereby bringing the disk c7 of smokeless powder into violent 10. The said diskof smokeless powder is thus detonated and the primary 'charge of explosive iired. The explosion of this chargelires the secondary charge J3, which in turn tiresthe tertiary charge C73. This charge J beingof suitable' magnitude bursts the frise-body and the sur- Vrounding weakened portion of the tube or pocket B, thereby detonating the main charge :in the projectile and bursting the latter. The aforesaid peripheral lead ring rf prevents direct Contact of the head t" of the striker with the interior surface of the flange if'. and Vbei'ng of a comparatively soft nature insures that the said striker will not be unduly retarded in its movement toward the anvil w". i

After impact of the projectile the time occupied bythe shearing of the two pins' 1' n" and by the travel'of the fuse to the closed end of the pocket' B and the ensuing movement of the striker Lnf'ovides for a delayed action of the fuse, so that the burst-ing of the projectile does not take place until after ithas had time the structure it is tired at.

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I offwliichinust be sheared before the fuse can A' fuse constructed as above described need contain'no dangerous explosives. The explo-` sive materials in the fuse are recognized as' being quite safe, and nothing excep't theirv being tiredV from a gun in a projectile andi the projectile subsequently coming into contact with'some hard substance can cause their detonation.' l

1t will be seen that there are t'w'o provisions tor preventing the entrance of the gases ofdiscliarge into theprojectile at the base, one being the base-plate with its obturator and the other the packing-ring- 714,- also thatv there areno less than three safeguards against the movement of the striker C relatively tothe bodyl C of the fiisemvizi, the pins'v C c2 f3-all detonate'.

'll-he interior ot" the aforesaid tube orpocket B is fori'ned'with a shoulder B', with which the rear end Vof the fuse-,body engages when vided with elongated walls c and'receives a tion-cfa movable fuse, of means vfor locking! expanded by theioree ofy the explosion of the contained detonating charges, so that said tiibe or pocket will be effectually blocked to'- waid therear by the said fuse-body when the explosion of'the' fuse takes place.

1n' the' modified construction of the fuse represented in 4. whereinl like letters ot' reference indicate similar parts to those described with reference to Figs l t'o'3. the

fuse-body is provided Withacent'ral tubular' portion c, within which the hollow striker C' i-s contained.' The cap-c8 i-s'in this case pr'otubular piece cl3 near itsforwai'dfend.- saidv tubular piece being of sufficient lengthto-einbrace'tlie forward end'ot` the aforesaid tubular part c". These two tubular portions c 0" forma circular partition dividing the interior ot' the fuse into two concentric compartments, which respectivelyv receive the sec` ondary and tertiary explosive charges d? d.

The irii'nary charge (Z is contained in the ca i' C". 1n other respects ythe said fuse is similar to that already described and operates in'an analogous manner. It does not, thereforemeed further description. A 'l VVliat-I claim, and desire to secure by` Letters Patent ot' the United States, is-

1; In 'an explosivev projectile,-the'combinathel fuse to Vthe projectile, which ,meansV is I sliea'red'f, and the fuse liberated on impactof the' projectile thus'permittingit to advance independently, of means forstopping the ad-v vancepf said fuse, of'a movable piece within said fuse, of means' for locking'the movable j piece to the fuse, which mea-nss sheared by the inertiaot"v the movable piece when the fuse is stopped 'thus permitting said movable piece to advance independently, 4and of meansv whereby the independent advance ot' said movable piece detonates the fuse. for the purpose specified; Y

Q *In an explosive projectile, the combination ot' a movable fuse, of a pocket for said inse extending into the main explosive charge ot tlieproiectile. ot a base-plate covering the open end of .said pocket,v ofk twotransvcrse pins aiiixing the said fuse to the rear end --ofA the said pocket, one of" sa'ielz pins'becoming slieared and the other bent onthe'shock due to the discharge of the gun, said-bent pinbecoming subsequently: shearedon impact of" Vthe projectile and'permittingthe fuse toadvance toward the closed end of said pocket, of

a longitudinally-movable piece in saidjfus'e', ofv

a transverse pin aiixingsaid movable piece to the fuse-body a'ndbec'omingsli-earedbythe `shock due to the fuse striking'the closed'cnd ot' saidpocket, and of means whereby the said longitudinally-movable piece when released detonates'the fuse, for the purpose specified.

3. In an explosive projectile,-the combina# tion of a movable fuse, of a metallic pocket for said fuse extending into the :main explo# sive charge of tlieprojectile, `of aidetac'hable base-plate covering the open end of said pocket, of a screw-plug fitting into theopen end of said pocket,of a steeldisk fitting said plug, of a cylindrical"strikerwithin said-fuse, of two transverse pins extending through a rearward extension on saidr striker, one of said pins entering the steel'disk and the other lying at the rear thereofl andengaging with the plug," ot' a transverse pin extending through said striker and entering the body of' the fuse and of'means whereby said pins are successively sheared substantially as and for the purpose specified.

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4. In an explosive projectile` the combina? tion with the movable fu'se and itsv retainingv pins,fof a-metallic pocket extending into the'` iiiz'iin'explosive charge oi the projectile and ot' metal fillets let into longitudinal grooves in the outer circumference ot' its inner end for weakening said pocket with regard tointernal rtliroiigli the recess in the plug. substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. Inan explosive projectile, the combina-4 tion withtlie movable fuse, its` retainingpins and its'n'ietallic pocket, ot' a liollowfcylin-4V drical striker within'tlie fuse-body. ii cap lit"- ting around'tlie head ot'lv said striker. an anvilin said cap. a disk o'fs'inokeless explosive ina`` ter'ial located between'said' striker :indsaid `pressures without weakening it-with regard vto external pressuresfor the purpose specified.

5. In an explosive projectile, the combina-U IIO anvil and. a transverse pin locking` said striker to said body until said pin is sheared by the momentum of the striker after the 'fuse-cap strikes the closed inner end of the pocket, substantially as and for the purpose specified` T. A delayed-action fuse for an explosive projectile, consisting' in the combination with the fuse-body, of a. hollow cylindricall striker surrounded by the tertiary explosive charge and inclosing the secondary explosive charge, ot a' cap titting around the head of the said striker and inclosing the primary explosive charge, ot a soft-metal ringinterposed between the surface of said head and said cap and .separating said primary and secondary charges, ot' an anvil in said capand of smokeless explosive material located between said striker and said anvil, substantially asand for the vpurpose speeitied.

" 8. 1n an explosive projectile,-the combination with a movable fuse and its metallic pocket, ot' a hollow cylindrical striker within the fuse-body, ot' a cap titting around the head of said striker, of a primary detonating charge within said cap,ot' a secondary detonating charge ot' stronger explosive qualities than the primary charge and located within said hollow striker, of a tertiary detonating charge o't' stronger explosive qualities than the secondary charge and surrounding said striker, ot an anvil in said cap, of a disk ot' smokeless explosive material located between said striker and said anvil, of a transverse pin ati-ixing said striker to said bod y,said pin being sheared by the shock due, to the striking of the cap of vother detonating charge the fuse-body with the closed end of said pocket and of two other transverse pins af'- fixing said fuse to the projectile, said pins being respectively sheared by the shockot' discharge and the shock of impactof the projectile, substantially as and for the purpose specified'.

9. A delayed-action fuse for an explosive projectile', consisting in the combination of a hollow central cylindrical striker, ot' a detonating charge surrounding said striker, ot' anlocated within said hollow striker, ot' a perforated plug closing the open end of .said lindrical head on said striker, ot' a-cap fitting around said head, and containing another detonating charge, ot' a soft metallic ring located between the periphery of said head and said cap, of an anvil in said cap, ot' a disk of explosive material located between said head and said anvil, of an extension on said striker extending through the base of the fuse-bod y, ot a transverse pin afiixing said striker to said body, and of two other transverse pins extending` through the portion of the said extension beyond the base ot' the fuse-body and engaging with the project-ile substantially as and t'or the purpose specified.

ln testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in presence ot two subscribing witnesses, this 6th day of December, 1901.

HIRAM STEVENS BLIAXIM.

Vitnesses:

T, SELBY VARDE, \\'ALTER J Sken'rex.

hollow striker, of a cy- Y 

